Lots of love and care
We are staying at a birth center/hospital in Port Au Prince tonight.
It is run by a small nonprofit, Heartline Ministries (run by Beth and John Mchoul). They are doing a fantastic job and it was amazing to see the care and love these patients are receiving. All are victims of the quake, all are sleeping outside on cots as they refuse to go indoors. Plenty of supplies and pain medications. A stark contrast to the lack of care people were receiving in Hinche hospital (I say that without judgement, as the Hinche hospital is trying: they have too many people with too little staff).
Antonette nursing her baby in the afternoon
There are many amputees laying on the cots. A vivacious boy who followed me around and kept grabbing my hand was missing chunks from his face. I have a picture of him. He was smashed in the rubble. Another boy who’s eyes were swollen shut due to his earthquake injuries being infected by maggots.
Vivacious little boy with crushed face
I nursed 3 babies. I started with one premie that the mom, Colette was refusing to nurse. After watching me nurse and laughing at all the commotion it caused (everyone gawking and giggling) she agreed to nurse her baby herself! Colette was found days after the earthquake, her pelvis split open at the symphis pubis from an earthquake injury. Her uterus still intact with a live baby inside. Heartline Ministries took her to the Comfort Ship where they performed a cesarean. She uses a walker and is in a lot of pain.
Nursing Collette's baby
A momma with a big, fat little girl insisted I nurse her baby and then asked me if I would take her home with her and adopt her. It’s her 7th.
Later that evening a third mom, Antonette, who has an amputated leg, said she couldn’t nurse due to being in so much pain. Her left leg is intact but in a brace that is screwed into her bones from her hip to her ankle. She patted her bed for me to sit on and I nursed her baby until her pain meds took effect. A neighbor on the cot to her right asked her, “You feel bad?” The neighbor on the cot to her left started laughing so hard that her body shook. We all asked her why she was laughing, she answered, “Antonette is laying there with one leg that doesn’t even work and someone asks her if she feels bad!” The absurdness hit us all, but especially Antonette. She began to laugh and laugh. She threw her head back in laughter and yowled, “I’m laughing so hard it is making my leg hurt more!”
I have so many stories to add to my blog once I am home and on a computer. Typing on the iphone is a bit slow.
Had dinner and church at a home here in Port Au Prince.. It was wonderful (both dinner and church). I’m falling asleep as I text, so “bonwit”.
Nursing Antonettes baby at night
March 1, 2010 at 7:47 pm
Hazel came home from school today and said they were talking about Haiti and that she told everyone that our friend is helping babies be born and nursing ones that are sick. You are making a huge impact, not only in Haiti, but at home and Hazel’s kindergarten class as well! ; )
I hope your flights home are enjoyable.
March 2, 2010 at 11:26 pm
You are an angel! Thank God there are people like you to do the things you do – what a blessing.
Thank you for sharing your stories, I’ve had tears in my eyes for most of the time reading this blog.
You have brought this tragedy in Haiti into REAL LIFE for me, before it was just another news story of a terrible event somewhere else in the world.
God Bless!
March 9, 2010 at 8:03 pm
You truly are an amazing woman Jen. I’m honored to know you and blessed to have watched/read this experience unfold through your eyes. You have truly touched so many souls, both there and here at home.